Oxventure Presents: Blades in the Dark - THE CAB-CON CAPER! Chapter 2

[@hannaaxelsson3687]

NPCs I can't wait to meet in-game: 1. Amadeus Astor, fraud and charlatan 2. Aloysius, unfortunate lab assistant 3. Algernon aka Squiffy, brilliant chap (not the best at drawing maps)

[@georgesears934]

I must've misunderstood the joke in that episode. I was under the impression that Algernon was the councilwoman's husband and Squiffy was the one she was cheating on him with. That's why Mike kept catching himself saying Squiffy and clumsily switching back to Algernon because Barnaby wasn't supposed to know about the affair but Squiffy blabbed it because Squiffy is Squiffy.

[@hannaaxelsson3687]

@@georgesears934 I assumed that Squiffy was a nickname that only his old school friends used, and that around other people, like councilwoman, he would use his real name.

[@georgesears934]

@@hannaaxelsson3687 I believe you, I'm just saying I got the wrong impression.

[@liamerolduffy7738]

Who will live and who will die? Find out more on this episode or the next!

[@borjesvensson8661]

@@hannaaxelsson3687 squiffy definitley strikes me as a member of the drones club. Well wrong city and universe but still.

[@tyrannicpuppy]

Setting a fire and legging it out the window seems to be becoming a theme for this group.

[@owenhughes5781]

If it ain't broke, set fire to it and escape out the window.

[@Xindiel]

I have to say, I am loving seeing Johnny get to enjoy throwing himself into a player character for once, instead of having his lovingly crafted NPCs corrupted by this lot.

[@MorinehtarTheBlue]

The look of pure joy on his face when Luke did the fanfare warmed my heart

[@colinpline2882]

I am pretty sure that johnny, the living human being, took stress on the group action.

[@MorinehtarTheBlue]

Mostly due to the look on Andy's face. I also thought he had whiffed it but it turns out that was chagrin. Poor Johnny with those failed rolls though. It did make those sixes so much sweeter.

[@andymcp4752]

‘My heist crew pulled a caper at Cab-Con and all I got was this lousy T-shirt’ +2 heat

[@nightmarethrenody8232]

@@derschwartzadder It wasn't for no reason: it was the result of Johnny rolling a 3 when doing the flashback to establish a getaway vehicle.

[@Fr0zenEagle]

To be fair, when the names of 2 members of the crew are shouted around at a crime scene when they were already under suspicion, I feel it's very fair to receive +2 heat and I think they should be glad there weren't more consequences.

[@hariharan6610]

@@nightmarethrenody8232 Yeah if anything, I think Luke handled that sooooo well. He is so good at coming up with complications.

[@GarmrKiDar]

I have barely started and I'm already laughing at "That's fair, Satan!"

[@psychronia]

Man, it's not that Lilith and Barnaby _weren't_ a good team, but the coordination and cooperation between Edvard and Kasimir is SEAMLESS. Andy tapping into his Disneyland excitement for Edvard is brilliant.

[@MorinehtarTheBlue]

To be fair Barnaby is "the liability". It makes any pairing he's involved with an extra challenge.

[@abdullahmohsin7889]

Mike tries to play Barnaby as a liability, but honestly speaking, he was the MVP of the previous adventure.

[@Lord_Of_Night]

@@abdullahmohsin7889 A glorious liability then.

[@Tabbyclaw]

The Cab-Con theme is really just "There's A Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow," isn't it?

[@Musikur]

@@abdullahmohsin7889 Yes, I mean he's basically meant for social stealth, Lilith is more of a true stealth build.

[@thomascrawley5972]

I love how Johnny deliberately thought of a distraction for the scientist guy that would lead to a cool quip to knock the guy out

[@scottlil01]

I love how Andy is able to keep up the outrage about Astor and will do anything to slander him. I can't wait for if/when they finally meet Astor.

[@DrakeAurum]

Edvard: "Ah-ha, at last we meet, Astor. Long have I awaited this day, this final epic confrontation with my greatest nemesis!" Astor: "Sorry, who are you?"

[@mattwood1562]

@@DrakeAurum “You’ve continuously ripped off my designs and slandered me in public!” “Do you have any idea how little that narrows it down!”

[@rimurutempest4945]

Can you imagine if Astor was actually really nice and was trying to advertise Edvard’s innoventions but he just really sucks at it.

[@gothmissstress]

@@mattwood1562 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@notsure1666]

I so much want Edvard to be fight clubbing and Astor is just a split personality

[@CaptainSam666]

"And they're dressed as bees!" Johnny's revenge

[@psychronia]

Joke's on him, Luke is gonna make Beeples canon at some point with the power to write for Geth's future.

[@MorinehtarTheBlue]

@@psychronia I heard Luke say until next week. So the Beeples may make a comeback real soon. Johnny may regret bringing it up.

[@Apetrexo]

They were actually dressed as Cees.. Johnny said it himself...

[@Red_Robin_Guitars]

The sight of Johnny/Casimir being all gruff, burley and clearly the master criminal - sipping tea from such a classy and elegant cup. *chef kiss

[@kunegund9690]

... you must not be English.

[@johnnygma]

"Let's get poopy." --> not a sentence I thought I'd hear in this dark and gritty heist adventure

[@gothmissstress]

But we all did, so bless them🤣

[@RoryStarr]

I feel like this is heavily based on how Andy is at conventions.

[@kunegund9690]

I'm rather enjoying the fashion show that he's putting on.

[@queenoffabulous2156]

Including throwing a box through a windows to get out faster

[@kennystoneman2584]

As a former member of Naval Intelligence, "Loose lips trip goats," had me rolling.

[@FrumpleJames]

Fan Theory: The gondolier is a descendent of Chauncy

[@DucklynStark]

Until proven otherwise, this is canon

[@gothmissstress]

I so hope for that

[@LoJo]

Hear, hear!

[@paulharries9558]

Oooh Chauncey....

[@GriffinWolf]

I love it but it does require Chauncey to live long enough to sire children... and for those children to do the same... I'm not sure Chaunceys are an evolutionary advantage.

[@oldharlock7760]

Compliment for the editing. When the, let's call it "Bladeventure theme", kicks in, the moment the fire breaks out? Man, 10/10 hype movie stuff! Already stoked for a Zillah episode!💜

[@treedude4246]

God i really want to know the blade venture theme

[@baldipogchamp8926]

Gosh that music is so good when it kicks in. It was great in the trailer and it is a excellent here.

[@soitspete]

I believe the theme is Luke's own composition

[@samjamwich]

Agreed, cinematic AF

[@juliahorn3659]

Wish granted!

[@tom-hk]

I am just waiting for the remaining part of Edvard's alchemical preparation - that is currently soaked into a rag in his pocket - to experience enough friction to ignite.

[@Nazbaque]

Is that a bomb in his pocket or is he just happy to see all the innoventions? Edit: Thanks for the correction Carrie :)

[@tom-hk]

@@Nazbaque I was thinking that if his mechanical inventions don't work out, Edvard could try breaking into the fashion industry with Hot Pants.

[@Nazbaque]

@@tom-hk Oh they would be blown away. However he has invested a great deal to the contraptions. Does he have anything left in reserve or is everything on the line down the family jewels?

[@tom-hk]

@@Nazbaque My fear is that despite all the wonderful possibilities (having Edvard's honesty called into question because his 'pants are on fire' etc.), this will just be one of those things that gets completely overlooked by GM and players. I guess we will find out in a few hours' time.

[@carriefrazier1809]

@@Nazbaque InnoVENTION, not innovation 😉

[@ErnestJeanAngeles]

I'd like to note Luke's continued amazing portrayal of NPCs here. Those expressions, reactions, just makes the game come alive. I'm sure the players enjoy it and recognize their luck to have a great GM!

[@larsbur28]

He is one of the beeeest GMs I've seen! :D

[@JTGerdes]

Absolutely incredible. Story was fantastic, music was amazing, and Johnny's drop of that Spider skill was brilliant! Can't wait for next year's Cab-Con

[@DrakeAurum]

I feel like that's going to come back to bite Johnny. I'm not sure he can make it through another interaction with that gondolier without slapping him.

[@robertparker3784]

@@DrakeAurum he didn't specify he wouldn't have the others slap him

[@kieranshorten5135]

I love how when Johnny breaks character he goes from Danny Dyer to Paddington Bear

[@KizuRai]

"I slap him silly." The way I just burst out laughing.

[@paulharries9558]

For not being circumspect, he was forcibly circumcised.

[@Amarok1886]

I admit, it annoyed me that the likes were at fifty nine, but honestly i hit the like button because I felt the same

[@ariellegreer9857]

You can see in Johnny’s eyes that he thinks Luke is a brilliant GM and that he’s proud of his protégée. I love ❤️

[@chrisworsley8836]

The NEW and INPROVED Edvard Lumiere LINE LAUNCHER... It HARDLY ever bursts into flames! Remember LUMIERE INOVENTIONS, Better then Astore's stuff! LOL

[@DrakeAurum]

"Now with actual line launching."

[@big924]

I’m sold

[@TheRabidArtist]

No Joke, Luke's world building is top notch gold! Johnny should be so proud. He clearly learned from the best, very impressive.

[@jothamfunclara6583]

Luke Westaway is that guy in quarantine we all aspire to be: learning like 20 new skills and broadening his already established crafts because he's stuck at home. Just amazing.

[@daniellamalcolm7328]

To relieve some heat, they should try to establish a solid alibi somewhere else at the time of the convention and spread rumors that strongly suggest Alistor has taken to paying a hawker to shout out Edvard and other people's names if anything goes wrong at any of his or his affiliates events just to run Edvard's name through the muck. Try to turn more people against him that way, and make people more suspect him of being underhanded, whether he actually is or not.

[@thetardyowlvg9155]

If this doesn't happen, I'll be extremely disappointed lol

[@Amarok1886]

genius!

[@angelguerrero7655]

This is so much fun watching different Ox members take up different roles. Luke seems like a natural when it comes to being the DM, and Johnny and Andy have incredible chemistry too. I can't wait to see where BITD takes them. Hell, as an outsider, I thought DND was boring. Now, seeing all the potential fun it can bring is more than enough to have me sold

[@craftfredo1479]

Angel Guerrero you could say andy has an incredibly alchemistry

[@angelguerrero7655]

@@craftfredo1479 i like your style kid

[@varkesh456]

This spin off is such great fun and the smaller group sessions really allow a great chance for the players to shine, luke is defiantly fidning his way as a dm very well and i think this format quite helps that as it is mostly controlling the chaos. Defiantly can't wait to see more of how this continues

[@Musikur]

I think I personally prefer D&D, but Blades suits Oxtra much better with it's looser rules and more freedom to just roll with the chaos. I think Luke has done a pretty good job too with making it difficult enough that the players are getting stress fairly regularly but are managing to survive... for now. If they will be able to keep going as they all accumulate more stress and have to start making tighter decisions will make it very interesting **evil laugh**.

[@thegreatpineapple4425]

I'm imagining Edvard wearing a low cut "GOAT MILK?" merch T-shirt as he's fleeing the scene. No one can tell me otherwise.

[@alexharrison2743]

I love how much Johnny is enjoying Andy's improv rants about Astor

[@imladrad2584]

Awww Kasimir told gondola guy about Edvard!

[@mikemullen8174]

I like that with the smaller teams everyone gets a chance to be centre stage.

[@KitSixty322]

“Incredible goat powers”

[@JackHammer503]

Hard cut to Edvard drawing up schematics for a goat powered automatic typing machine where he can write his manifesto about why Astor is a fraudulent boob

[@MinniMaster]

I just wanna mention how fantastic the theme song for this series is. Fits perfectly with the setting, and it gets really hype when it plays at the climax of the heist.

[@stevenharper9108]

Mission Story Completed: Reigns, Reigns, Reigns, Reigns, Reigns, Reigns

[@DucklynStark]

LADS

[@errorcrj110]

It should have been names: Reynes, Reins, Reigns, Reines, Rayns, Raeghn'zz. The last one was the son of a leviathan hunter who decided he preferred cab driving to risking life and limb at sea.

[@Lord_Of_Night]

Isn't it Reins? As in, the reins on an animal. Not reigns as in ruling.

[@stevenharper9108]

I said what I said and I'm going to stand by it even if I'm wrong.

[@mattgardiner744]

I need more Astor-Lumiere feuding so badly

[@nathanielweinstein7652]

I imagine cab-con ends in a fire every other year.

[@Storyman09]

Oh yeah, absolutely. They pay a *VERY* high premium on their fire insurance.

[@phantomswagger9363]

If a fire didn't break out, did you even go to CabCon?

[@deadmanmouse2463]

Johnny is the man. Oxventure is held together by his wonderful ability to role with anything.

[@rimurutempest4945]

I really love these smaller sessions. Not only do they let the characters and players shine in the spotlight more, they also create interesting dynamics between characters.

[@GriffinWolf]

No matter how many times I rewatch this episode, that moment at 41:10 always gives me a grin as big as Edvard's. The combination of Luke's timing, Edvard's delighted reaction, and the **brilliant** musical shift... one of the best moments of the series so far.

[@heleneandersson7649]

I loved this heist. The dynamic between Edvard and Casamir is great 😃

[@thomasrevill7723]

The two pairs we've had so far have been really great, the characters work very well together

[@lucieellis3149]

running themes so far Barnaby's coat getting runied A fire at a Kasimir job Also good to see that Luke can make Johnny face palm even when Luke is in charge

[@ThatMilzaGuy]

Leaving an unconscious man behind and starting a fire... I'm beginning to see theme with the escape plans.

[@big924]

Serial robbers

[@psychronia]

Luke: Don't worry, he can't see the goat from the main area. Kasimir: Right.... _He_ can't... Poor Kasimir is the opposite of Barnaby. He tries really hard to get this done but the dice don't oblige.

[@octochan]

This series is really bringing their A game with all the best A names - Algernon, Aloysius, Amadeus... Keep it coming!

[@sophiefrankis9476]

You know what would be funny? If even hundreds of years later, Bismuth is still alive. XD

[@Dreamklubdk]

I want this to be true.

[@carriefrazier1809]

And now she can transform into a steamship

[@betteryou7hanme]

I imagine all of the gondolas are coraswans, and that no one remembers why/when the design comes from.

[@Musikur]

@@carriefrazier1809 I think you are thinking of the Bismarck, but I appreciate the joke anyway ;P

[@octochan]

I don't know why, but the image popped into my head of Bismuth's desiccated remains in one of those fairground mechanical fortune-teller boxes, where the current owner doesn't realize there's a real corpse in there but all the children tell stories about it being haunted or actually alive, and for some reason all the fortunes it gives out are very snarky and sarcastic

[@ianknight5120]

Quite apart from anything else, this is seriously TV-quality scoring. Top quality composition!

[@davidmorris6707]

I have purchased my own copy of the source book to better understand the mechanics of what is going on. Loving this series!

[@jothamfunclara6583]

I love how well the gang plays off the rules, too, as opposed to D&D, where some of the rules just get set aside or forgotten entirely, albeit mostly to comedic effect.

[@davidmorris6707]

@@jothamfunclara6583 yeah. It shows their increased familiarity with the systems of table top games

[@no_genius]

I think Kasimir definitely failed the clean hands run

[@totz_the_plaid9625]

"Discrete funnel!🎶Discrete funnel!" (A:tLA reference)

[@JKM395]

That went off pretty much without a hitch. They gained some heat, but it went really well and I'm pretty sure they can get rid of that. Well done guys.

[@tomireland4740]

Every part of these videos is fantastic! From Producer John's voiceovers at the start and end (I cannot overstate my love for your reading of it), Luke's storytelling, the fun and inventive characters, the system rewarding invention and complicated success. *chef's kiss* Really excited for more =)

[@aravindnair4556]

The shots of Andy holding it in... are hilarious !! :D

[@Kit-and-Stoma-Bob]

John's little intro sizzle is excellent!

[@gallaetha_matt]

These have been fantastic so far, but I just want to especially mention how fantastic the editing/music direction has been for all the previous episodes. The way it just pops into the "getaway music" towards the end of the heist really gets the adrenaline going. Great work as always, can't wait for more Blades in the Dark!

[@ArmAA2]

Andy trying to hold it together the whole conversation from 27:43 is hilarious 😆

[@RyuAkamatsu]

This was the best one yet. You can see they are really starting to find their feet with the new characters and I can't wait for more

[@brockmarie]

I feel like the +2 heat they took is almost entirely due to Edvard's fiery sabotage of his rival's invention (causing massive destruction and potential deaths) rather than the actual heist! Since the Clelland Company was breaking the law in a big way, the heisters were more doing the work of a gritty journalist who exposes a scheme to the police. (Though I guess Johnny did choke that old man... Let's hope he and the goats made it out of the fire lol)

[@ladytrehalose7052]

Loving the music design (?) on these, Oxtra!!

[@SnoodDogg]

I got chills when the theme started as Luke described Chekov's Gun going off. So perfect.

[@martinkadlec6070]

Had to watch this episode later than I would have liked. It was very good fun. Also the music was super on point. The main theme in "the" moment especially (don't want to spoil anything).

[@GriffinWolf]

Luke's expression when Kasimir said that smoke was sizzling out of the handshake! He probably thought what I did at first, that Kasimir had some sort of deadly contact poison. Can't wait to see what Zillah gets up to!

[@TransGamerNerd27]

“Plan A is to sneak around. Plan C is to hit someone.”

[@GenLiu]

I'm loving this series more and more with each new episodes. The characters are very fleshed out, every player make a great job at giving them life (both Kasimir and Edvard are brilliant) and Luke is an amazing DM. Details like using Edvard's sabotaging that happened much eariler in the story (and could have easily been forgotten by less talented DMs) at a critical point are making a big difference. Well done guys.

[@Knopey]

Course instructor: "So, what did you learn over the weekend?" Me: "Never ever apologize for poo in any context. It happens."

[@Maymer]

I love the theme music for this show so much, especially when it cranked up to epic

[@ka-mai]

This was fantastic and extremely well-made (the music, the editing). And everyone's role-playing is top-notch, this almost feels like a movie!

[@kevin_f]

Personally, I can’t wait to see you steal Nicholas Cage.

[@ka-mai]

It's gonna be the final caper, and Nicholas Cage is a magic leviathan.

[@JachAnen]

@@ka-mai Or just a cage made by a Nicholas

[@leafclan43]

Edvard's excitement at Cab-Con just makes me so nostalgic for when conventions were still a thing...

[@big924]

Two years ago now

[@kyleerikson4971]

These three cracking each other up is such a delight to watch. Really needed this today. Thank You.💚💜

[@taramcmahon8264]

My husband and I have a headcanon that Kasimir is working with noobs because the real criminals won't put up with his nonsense. "What are you doing?" "What does it look like I'm doing?" "It smells like you're rolling around in goat feces."

[@matthewdaunt2904]

Words I never thought I'd hear: "Sorry for all the poo." - Johnny Chiodini 6th Feb 2021. :D Thanks for another fun score chaps!

[@jeffreywells1832]

The music cue when the explosive went off was siiiiick

[@Icam_here]

the role play by everyone was amazing. i cant wait till we get to see the next one

[@ka-mai]

Me want a "I was at StabCon 1891 and all I got was a knife in the back" T-shirt :D

[@lespaulpanhead025]

Kasimir: “Plan ‘C’ is Cane! I.E. I hit someone with it!”

[@anaximander66]

"Lose lips trip goats." I'll be using that out of context for years, YEARS!

[@jakturner7844]

I do know why, but Kasimir saying “I’m still reeling from the fact a ghost can hiss” had me on my ass. For some reason I laughed way harder than I usually do at their jokes

[@ApesWithEgos]

I'm imagining a bear with curly hair being dyed white is Bessy.

[@rcb5432]

I thought it was just gonna be a regular horse

[@MsShikaNara]

I was picturing a bull everyone was pretending was a goat

[@ApesWithEgos]

Kazimer with not just a sleeper, oh no, friends... But a Cobra Clutch. Beaut.

[@MissingRaptor]

I've now listened to a few of these and it occurs to me that these are basically like radio plays. I love it! Gives me a fun story to listen to while I'm doing stuff.

[@Frosty-oj6hw]

Kasimir and Edvard as such brilliant characters, the role playing is so enjoyable.

[@torgranael]

39:05 "Hidden in a hay-stily assembled... bale of hay." Appreciate the word play there.

[@larsbur28]

This series could easily be my favourite actual play! I love the characters, the dynamic in every different constellation of players, the story and just the overall quality and production value! Making my day!

[@shawnheatherly]

Slandering Astore, improving Edvard's Line Launcher, Kasimir making a contract with a blabber mouth in hopes of keeping word spreading. What a fun heist.

[@torico29a40]

I just love Edvard's deadpan positivity.

[@FranFry]

I Love Kasimir and Edvards dynamic so much 🤣🤣🤣

[@NacnudPinky]

I can't wait this is so exciting

[@betteryou7hanme]

I really thought andy was gonna say, "... so.. if we can find that syringe... we can give ourselves incredible goat powers."

[@needhumanheat]

that was amazing! this BitD series just keeps getting better and better

[@kingofthebottleshooters5805]

The gondoliers name wasn't Chauncey, was it?

[@AchtungBeccaC]

This is so much fun. I was nervous at first about the smaller groupings, but it is nice. Can’t wait for the next episode. Nice work, Luke, Andy and Johnny!

[@anthonypole5891]

Given that Amadeus Astor seems to have exactly to same ideas as Edvard and is rarely seen, is Aloysius secretly Amadeus? (Or a spy?)

[@jothamfunclara6583]

Headcanoning this, thanks.

[@mycatistypingthis5450]

It does sound a bit like Asmodeus and Hastur, which is an interesting couple.

[@zed2626]

I am in love with this new series. I am fully hooked. I even purchased the book myself and am in the process gathering friend for our game. Keep up the great work! Thanks for what you do

[@yeoldecrone5474]

I like to imagine that Edvard's and Astor's rivalry is entirely one sided and that Astor is just this kindly old man who likes to build contraptions that help the world. Then there is Edvard, sitting in his lab scheming, staring at a wall covered in torn out newspaper articles and red string.

[@eloquentlyemma]

Everyone knows that Edvard is the “God of Inventioning”.

[@yeoldecrone5474]

@The Gaming Meta Yeah, you are probably right. Though any way Andy plays this,the climax is going to involve a lot of fireworks. He has a way of making everything interesting. I'm really curious to see where he is taking it.

[@michaelsimao495]

From what Andy talked about in the frist ever one astor is pretty bad he just used his rival edvard locks to kill a penguin by having it eat them

[@georgesears934]

Or Astor is just the inventor, and the one who ran all of those PR stunts to ruin Edvard's reputation was... you know... the head of the PR department. Astor is just this really happy guy who wants to make the world a better place, while his head of PR is this ruthless cutthroat businessman/businesswoman out to crush and consume all competition. But because Astor is the face of the company Edvard blames everything done by his company on him, not realizing that as a massive tech corporation there are other players in the game and that the one undercutting and sabotaging Edvard is someone he's never heard of.

[@georgesears934]

@@derschwartzadder I know, and that's exactly why throwing a curveball would be funny because everyone has the expectation that this will go a certain way, and subverting that expectation would be comedic.

[@sneakydeekie5472]

There was some truly amazing role playing in these two episodes! I love it so much!!

[@SolaScientia]

I love this one. I love them all so far, but I really love this one. I worked on a goat farm for about half a year, so the whole bit with Bessie had me giggling. Considering how fast goats can run (and turn) when they get going, especially Alpines or Nubians, picturing Bessie running even faster than that is a bit terrifying to say the least. Luke's remark about Edvard knowing more about Amadeus Astor than he'd like to know makes me think they could be former lovers turned hated rivals or something like that. The bees bit and Johnny's "see! See!" remark really got me going. And Kasimir with that curse contract with the twerp at the end is just brilliant.

[@celticdr]

Johnny is a total stress tank in this game - he's taking on stress left, right and centre - love it! 😂

[@Cutiemuffinz]

Now we need CabCon merch! Come on, guys, let’s get some tacky t-shirts going!

[@owenhughes5781]

Stabcon tees, replete with a knife hole.

[@janmaurycyuszko8614]

This has to be my favourite OutsideX series!

[@GazJones1987]

Cannot... wait!